One Cheer

Commentary by Pete du Pont

February 20, 1997

Host intro: Today, commentator Pete du Pont of the National Center for Policy Analysis has one cheer for California Democratic Congressman Pete Stark. If Stark wants three cheers, though, he's going to have to work for them.

Pete Stark is one of Congress' most committed health care socialists.

So imagine my surprise when he supported the private sector plan of tax credits to provide health care for America's uninsured children. The system gives lower-income working people a large subsidy for health care.

So why only one cheer?

First, stark says he wants health insurance on a voluntary basis: nobody will be forced to buy it. However, he would force insurance companies to sell children's policies to families at any time, regardless of their health status, which is the same thing as letting people buy auto insurance after the wreck. This is machiavellian string-pulling at its most colblooded: it would either bankrupt the insurance companies or force premiums so high families couldn't afford them. Either way, it sets up a clamor for nationalized health care.

Second, if he's going to propose a new entitlement program for millions of people, Stark ought to have some idea how to pay for it. But he readily admits doesn't. It's classic liberal thinking -- authorize an entitlement now, find the money later.

So Pete Stark gets one cheer for tax credits. Otherwise, a hush just fell over the crowd.

Those are my ideas, and at the NCPA we know ideas can change the world. I'm Pete du Pont, and I'll see you tomorrow.